Stingy Defense Helps Batcheller to Player of the Week Nod

Sep 02, 2013

FULLERTON, Calif. -- Cal State Fullerton sophomore Morgan Batcheller was named the Big West Conference's Defensive Player of the Week on Monday after helping her side extend its shutout streak to three-straight matches with its performances last weekend.

It's the first career award for the Carlsbad, Calif., native, who anchors a stingy defense that has not allowed a goal over the last 302:01 dating back to the second half of the season opener against No. 6 BYU.

Tasked with marking Utah's leading scorer Baylee Nielson, the sophomore did an outstanding job, holding her to just two shots while withstanding an 11-shot barrage from the Pac-12's Utes in forging a scoreless draw.

Two days later, in the midday heat and humidity, Batcheller spearheaded a defense that held visiting Montana to a season-low four shots in a 2-0 win. It was the fewest shots by a Fullerton opponent since Creighton had the same number on Sept. 9, 2012.

Cal State Fullerton returns to the pitch for its second road match of the season on Friday (Sept. 6) at Texas Tech in a 5 p.m. kickoff from Lubbock, Texas.